Recently, I visited the proposed PolyMet copper mine and processing facility at Hoyt Lakes. This news-making project may launch a new era of mining on Minnesota’s Iron Range—provided the project is approved through a rigorous environmental review and permitting process.
Wild North: Shawn Perich
Understanding PolyMet’s Proposed Copper Mine
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Hosting my visit were PolyMet’s LaTisha Gietzen, an engineer and fourth generation Iron Ranger, and Brad Moore, a senior advisor of public affairs for Barr Engineering. Moore is a former commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and assistant commissioner of the DNR. Full disclosure here, I know Moore personally and fished and hunted with him.
North Notes
A recent photo shoot for Brunton outdoor products took place in Grand Marais with local models posing in less than perfect conditions. The theme of the photo shoot was “Pay the Price,” meant to showcase Brunton’s products being used in challenging conditions. more...
Reviews
The new line of fashionable women’s golf shirts by Donna Bonn Designs are made of a soft and stretchable combination of organic cotton, bamboo and spandex. more...
Day Trippin'
Nipigon Launches Paddle-to-the-Sea Park
When the international best-selling children’s book Paddle-to-the-Sea was first published in 1941, it is unlikely the book’s Michigan-born author and illustrator Holling C. Holling imagined it would someday launch a $4.3 million destination theme park in the small town of Nipigon (pop. 1,752) on Lake Superior. But it did. Ten years in the making, the Paddle-to-the-Sea Park was officially opened this spring. more...
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Events
Tall Ships Returning to Duluth
The enthusiastic response to the arrival of three Tall Ships in 2008 brought an estimated 125,000 folks to Duluth’s waterfront. This summer, a small flotilla of them will revisit Duluth. The long weekend of July 29 through Aug. 2 will see eight magnificent sailing vessels in Duluth for the Tall Ships Duluth 2010 festival.
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Outdoor Activities
Northern Sky
What can beat watching the stars on a lazy summer night? Our first treat comes early, when Mars makes a close pass over the bright star Regulus in Leo, the lion. Looking to the west around 10 p.m. on June 6-7, you’ll see the reddish planet less than half a degree above Regulus, anchor of the Sickle of stars forming Leo’s head. more...
Features
Start Your Engine—5 Wild ATV Rides
Whether you’re a die-hard ATV fan who ventures far and wide in search of trails or if you just like to rent ATVs once in a while for a day ride with the family, these five trails offer wild rides through the varied landscape of the northern wilds. Visit them often to experience how the shifting seasons manifest as changes in the trees, flowers, wildlife, and weather conditions. more...